Endora stood at the doorstep of her father's house, her bags clutched tightly in her hands. She took one last look at the grand building, her heart heavy with mixed emotions. She wouldn't be coming back for four years, and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. Life with her father had never been happy, not even when she was a child.
Behind her, the door creaked open. Her father stepped out, his face as cold and distant as always. He didn't look at her or say a word. Dressed in a black suit and carrying a briefcase, he looked every bit the important man he was, a top executive at Eclara, one of the country's leading tech companies. He walked past her without a glance, heading straight for his car.
"Mr. Windsor," she called out. It was what she always called him. To him, she had never been more than a ghost in his life. "I'm leaving for university today," she said, motioning to her luggage. But he didn't turn. He didn't even pause. He just got into the car and shut the door.
Endora wasn't surprised. She knew he didn't care. He had only ever done the bare minimum, paying for her education and providing the basics. Nothing more. She rushed to his car window, her voice quivering. "Mr. Windsor, I won't be back for four years. I'm going to university," she said. But he started the engine without a word. Her eyes stung with tears.
"Mr. Windsor," she tried again, her voice breaking, "at least take me to the airport. If you hate me so much, you won't have to see me for four years." But he drove off, leaving her standing there, alone. She watched his car disappear down the road, her chest aching. She had expected this, but it still hurt. He had always been like this; cold, distant, uncaring. She sighed, the weight of his indifference pressing down on her heart.
Just then, the taxi she had called pulled up. She turned and took one last look at the mansion she had called home for so many years. It felt more like a prison than a home. She knew leaving wouldn't change anything, but it was still a step forward. She dragged her bags to the taxi, and the driver helped her load them into the trunk. As she settled into the back seat, the car began to move.
The mansion grew smaller in the distance, its towering walls shrinking until they disappeared from view. Endora turned away, facing the road ahead. She was stepping into a new chapter, far from her father and the life that had never felt like hers. The pain in her heart lingered, but so did a flicker of hope. For the first time, she was free to find her own path.
Soon, the taxi arrived at Silvercrest Airport. Endora stepped out of the car, her luggage in hand, with the driver helping her unload it. She thanked him as he drove off, leaving her to begin the process of checking in for her flight. After completing the formalities, she boarded the plane, and before long, it soared into the sky.
Her father had chosen the university for her, making sure it was far from home; Emberfall, another city within Avilla. It was clear he wanted her out of his life, and his plan had worked. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, but she pushed it aside. This was her chance to start anew.
Endora wondered what life would be like in Emberfall. She had never really explored other places before. The few times she had traveled were with her father, visiting relatives, and those trips had been brief and uneventful. Now, she was heading to a city she had never seen, only glimpsed through pictures online. The thought was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
After a long flight, the plane touched down in Emberfall. As soon as she stepped off, she was hit by a wave of cold air. It was colder than Silvercrest, and she quickly zipped up her jacket to keep warm. The chill in the air felt like a reminder that she was in a completely new place, far from everything familiar.
She hailed another taxi and gave the driver the address for Nightshade University. It was a private university, known for being expensive and exclusive. The pictures she had seen online made it look stunning, but she wasn't sure what to expect in person.
A mix of excitement and nervousness bubbled inside her. She had a simple plan: stay invisible until graduation. She wasn't used to associating with people, and she didn't plan to start now. In high school, she had always been the quiet one, the "weirdo" everyone avoided. She was used to that life, and she intended to keep it that way.
Soon, the taxi arrived at the grand gates of Nightshade University. The gates were wide open, and the guards standing there gave a friendly wave as the car drove through. As they moved along the driveway, Endora couldn't help but notice the tall, beautiful trees lining both sides. The campus was sprawling, with large, elegant buildings scattered across the grounds. It was even more stunning than the pictures she had seen online; a true masterpiece of beauty and grandeur.
The taxi came to a stop in the parking lot, and Endora stepped out, pulling her luggage from the trunk. She held onto the necessary documents she needed for registration as the taxi drove away. Standing there, she took a moment to look at the main building in front of her. It was imposing yet breathtaking. She gripped her luggage tightly and began walking toward the entrance, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Students bustled about, but no one seemed to pay her any attention; or so she thought.
When she reached the front of the building, she climbed the steps and approached the entrance. Two guards stood there, their expressions far from friendly.
"Good day," she greeted politely, but they only stared at her, their faces unreadable.
"Where's your guardian?" one of them asked abruptly.
"Your guardian. Didn't you read your admission papers? You're supposed to come with a guardian on your first day," the guard said, his tone sharp.
Endora frowned, confused. "Why?" she asked, but the guards only laughed in response. Then it hit her, her father had mentioned something about this when he handed her the admission papers. He had given her a card, telling her to show it to the guards if they asked.
She quickly dug into her purse and pulled out the card, handing it to the guards. They glanced at it, their expressions shifting to something strange and unreadable. Without a word, they handed the card back to her and opened the door. Endora wondered what the card meant, but she decided not to dwell on it. She tucked it back into her purse and started to drag her luggage inside.
Just as she was about to step through the door, one of the guards grabbed her hand. His grip was icy cold, sending a shiver down her spine. She turned sharply, giving him a "what do you want?" look. The guard let go and smiled; a strange, unsettling smile.
"Welcome to Nightshade University," he said, his voice low and almost mocking.
Endora forced a weird smile in return and quickly walked into the building, her heart racing. The encounter left her uneasy, but she pushed the feeling aside. She was here now, and there was no turning back.
As Endora walked through the building, she spotted a door with a sign that read "Registration". She stepped inside and found a woman sitting behind a large desk, a computer in front of her. The room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the machine.
"Good day, ma'am," Endora greeted politely.
The woman looked up and smiled warmly. "Good day, dear. How can I help you?"
"I'm a new student. I'm here for my schedule and dorm room assignment," Endora replied.
The woman nodded. "May I see your documents and the ID that was mailed to you?"
Endora handed over everything she had. The woman examined the papers carefully, then handed them back. She typed something into her computer, and after a moment, a printer whirred to life. The woman handed Endora a printed schedule, a dorm room assignment, and a key.
"You'll need to see the director to get all of this approved," the woman said, as if it were a routine step.
Endora nodded, assuming this was normal. She thanked the woman and followed the directions to the director's office. When she arrived, she knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in," a sharp voice called from inside.
Endora opened the door and stepped in. The scene before her was unexpected. Two boys sat facing each other, glaring daggers, while a woman behind a large desk watched them with an irritated expression. The tension in the room was thick.
"I'm done with both of you. Now get out!" the woman snapped, motioning toward the door. But the boys didn't move.
Endora hesitated, then decided to speak up. "Hi!" she said, her voice loud enough to cut through the tension.
What happened next shocked her. Both boys turned sharply and shouted in unison, "Shut the hell up!"
Endora froze, her face burning with embarrassment. She hadn't expected such a reaction. But what she didn't know was that this small mistake would lead to more trouble than she could have ever imagined. The boys' glares shifted to her, and the director's eyes narrowed. Endora suddenly felt like she had stepped into a storm she wasn't prepared for.